Saturday 8 March 2014

FEBRUARY 2014. Notable observations in Extremadura


 
Annotated list of the most noteworthy records throughout February 2014. Compiled and with illustration above of Black-necked Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis), by Sergio Mayordomo.

TRANSLATED BY MARTIN KELSEY

-Barnacle Goose: Two on the ricefields of Santa Amalia (BA) on 25/02 (Fernando Yuste).
Egyptian Goose: Three on Soto gravel pits, Valverde de Mérida (BA) on 12/02 (Marc Gálvez and José Guerra). Six at Los Arenales, Cáceres, on 16/02 (Alberto Sánchez). Four on the pool at Morante, Badajoz, on 17/02 (José Luis Bautista). Two on Alcollarín reservoir (CC) on 22/02 (Antonio Calvo). Two at Orellana reservoir (BA) on 23/02 (Francisco Montaño and Gema Montaño).
Ruddy Shelduck: One at rice fields at El Batán (CC) on 03/02 (Sergio Mayordomo). One at Soto gravel pits, Valverde de Mérida (BA), on 12/02 (M. Gálvez and J. Guerra).
Common Shelduck: One at Sierra Brava reservoir, Zorita (CC), on 09/02 (Martin Kelsey). Three at Guareña (BA) on 12/02 (José Antonio Román). Six at Los Canchales reservoir (BA) on 16/02 (J. L. Bautista). 18 at rice fields at Santa Amalia (BA) on 22/02 and 22 on 25/02 (F. Yuste). Three at Palazuelo ricefields (BA) on 26/02 (Urban Bühlmann, Juan Pablo Prieto and Kirsten Walker).
Red-crested Pochard: 7 on lagoons at La Albuera (BA) on 09/02 (Juan Carlos Paniagua) and on 20/02 (John Muddeman, J. P. Prieto and Godfried Schreur). A male at River Ardila (BA) on 15/02 (F. Montaño). One at Orellana reservoir (BA) on 16/02 (M. Kelsey and Patrick Kelsey) and four on 23/02 (F. Montaño and G. Montaño).
- Black-necked Grebe: 40 at Orellana reservoir (BA) on 09/02 (S. Mayordomo and Eva Palacios), 30 on 16/02 (M. Kelsey and P. Kelsey -photo-), seven on 22/02 (Vanessa de Alba and Antonio Núñez) and 18 on 23/02 (F. Montaño and G. Montaño). One at Sierra Brava reservoir, Zorita (CC), on 16/02 (M. Kelsey and P. Kelsey). Two at lagoons at La Albuera (BA) on 20/02 (J. Muddeman, J. P. Prieto and G. Schreur) and one there on 22/02 (M. Gálvez and J. Guerra).
Great White Egret: 12 at Charco Salado, Casatejada (CC), on 02/02 (M. Kelsey) and 25 there on 17/02 (Manuel García del Rey).
Glossy Ibis: One at rice fields at El Batán (CC) on 03/02 (S. Mayordomo).
Greater Flamingo: 14 at the lagoons at La Albuera (BA) on 24/02 (Andrés Vega).
Goshawk: One at Puerto Peña (BA) on 16/02 (M. Kelsey and P. Kelsey).
Booted Eagle: One at Guadiana del Caudillo (BA) on 02/02 (J. L. Bautista). One at Casatejada (CC) on 08/02 (M. Á. Muñoz and E. Palacios).
Osprey: One at Arrocampo reservoir (CC) on 23/02 (José María Herranz).
-Purple Swamphen: Adult with three chicks at Arrocampo reservoir (CC) on 25/02 (Michel Viskens).
Avocet: One at Lugar Nuevo, Peraleda de la Mata (CC), on 01/02 (S. Mayordomo). One at rice fields at Medellín (BA) on 15/02 (F. Yuste). 62 on rice fields at Palazuelo (BA) on 26/02 (U. Bühlmann, J. P. Prieto and K. Walker).
Kentish Plover: 25 on rice fields at Puebla de Alcollarín (BA) on 01/02 (M. Kelsey) and 12 on 22/02 (V. de Alba and A. Núñez) and on 26/02 (U. Bühlmann, J. P. Prieto and K. Walker).
Dotterel: Six at Hinojal (CC) on 01/02 (Dave Langlois and Sammy Langlois) and 15 on 07/02 (Alberto Gil). One at Valverde de Mérida (BA) on 03/02 (J. Guerra) and on 04/02 (M. Gálvez and J. Guerra). Six at Cabeza del Buey (BA) on 08/02 (Jus Pérez, José Portillo and Alber Sanmartí) and three on 23/02 (Paco Bernáldez, J. Guerra and Paco Macías). 19 at Castuera (BA) on 23/02 (P. Bernáldez, J. Guerra and P. Macías).
Jack Snipe: One at Valverde de Mérida (BA) on 03/02 (J. Guerra). Five seen on rice fields at Puebla de Alcollarín (BA) on 08/02 (J. Pérez, J. Portillo and A. Sanmartí). One at Talaván reservoir (CC) on 15/02 (Juan José Ramos Encalado).
Curlew: Two on rice fields at Santa Amalia (BA) on 15/02 and four on 22/02 (F. Yuste). Three on rice fields at Palazuelo (BA) on 26/02 (U. Bühlmann, J. P. Prieto and K. Walker).
Lesser Yellowlegs: One remaining between Puebla de Alcollarín and Palazuelo (BA) on 10/02 (M. Kelsey), 12/02 (A. Gil), 18/02 (Santiago Avis), 22/02 (V. de Alba and A. Núñez) and 26/02 (U. Bühlmann, J. P. Prieto and K. Walker).
Mediterranean Gull: One at Alange reservoir (BA) on 05/02 and on 09/02 (M. Gálvez and J. Guerra). One at rice fields at Santa Amalia (BA) on 08/02 (J. Pérez, J. Portillo and A. Sanmartí). One at Torremejías (BA) on 09/02 (J. Guerra, J. Pérez, J. Portillo and A. Sanmartí) and another on rice fields at Navalvillar de Pela (BA) (S. Mayordomo and E. Palacios). One at Soto gravel pits, Valverde de Mérida (BA), on 12/02 and 14/02 (M. Gálvez and J. Guerra).
Common Gull: One at Alange reservoir (BA) on 09/02 (M. Gálvez).
Yellow-legged Gull: One at Charco Salado, Casatejada (CC), on 02/02 (M. Kelsey). One at Alange reservoir (BA) on 05/02 (M. Gálvez and J. Guerra). One at Soto gravel pits, Valverde de Mérida (BA), on 12/02 and two on 14/02 (M. Gálvez and J. Guerra).
Kittiwake: One received at the Animal Recovery Centre Los Hornos which had been collected at Valencia de Alcántara (CC) on 10/02 (pers.com Javier Caldera). It died the following day.
Little Gull: A first winter bird at Orellana reservoir (BA) on 09/02 (S. Mayordomo and E. Palacios), on 16/02 (M. Kelsey and P. Kelsey) and on 22/02 (V. de Alba and A. Núñez); and an adult there on 09/02 (M. Kelsey). One present at the lagoons of La Albuera (BA) on 16/02 (José María Álvarez).
- Caspian Tern: One at Orellana reservoir (BA) on 23/02 (F. Montaño and G. Montaño).
Whiskered Tern: One at Montijo reservoir, Mérida (BA), on 27/02 (J. Guerra).
White-winged Black Tern: One remaining at Orellana reservoir (BA) on 08/02 (J. Pérez, J. Portillo and A. Sanmartí), 09/02 (S. Mayordomo and E. Palacios), 22/02 (V. de Alba and A. Núñez) and 23/02 (F. Montaño and G. Montaño).
Stock Dove: At least five at Galisteo (CC) on 08/02 (Javier Prieta), one on 10/02, two on 17/02 (S. Mayordomo) and 200 on 27/02 (M. Kelsey). 20 at Valverde de Leganés (BA) on 20/02 (J. Muddeman, J. P. Prieto and G. Schreur) and one on 22/02 (M. Gálvez and J. Guerra).
Ring-necked Parakeet: One at Mérida (BA) on 20/02 (Jesús Solana). Two at Campofrío, Badajoz, on 22/02 (M. Gálvez and J. Guerra).
Wryneck: One at River Bembézar, Azuaga (BA) on 01/02 (V. de Alba and A. Núñez). One trapped for ringing at River Gargáligas, Rena (BA), on 23/02 (GIA Extremadura).
Pied Wagtail: One at Valverde de Mérida (BA) on 04/02 (M. Gálvez and J. Guerra). Two in a roost in Plasencia (CC) on 10/02 and three on 19/02 (J. Prieta). One at Acehúche (CC) on 15/02 (Iván Solana). One at Galisteo (CC) on 17/02 (S. Mayordomo). One at Majadas Altas, Campo Lugar (CC), on 23/02 (A. Calvo). One in the dehesa boyal of La Roca de la Sierra (BA) on 26/02 (G. Schreur).
Alpine Accentor: Two at Montánchez castle (CC) on 01/02 (M. Kelsey). One or two at Alange castle (BA) on 24/02 (M. Gálvez) and one there on 25/02 (J. Guerra).
Snow Finch: One at Jálama peak, Acebo (CC), on 19/02 (A. Gil). First record for Extremadura. Still present there on 23/02César Clemente and S. Mayordomo).

FIRST SPRING MIGRANTS
Purple Heron: One at Torremayor (BA) on 28/02 (J. P. Prieto).
Black Kite: One at Valverde de Mérida (BA) on 13/02 (M. Gálvez). One at Cáceres on 14/02 (J. L. Bautista). One at Plasencia on 15/02 (S. Mayordomo, Miguel Ángel Muñoz and E. Palacios).
Egyptian Vulture: One at La Aldea del Obispo (CC) on 18/02 (Neil Renwick). One at Cáceres on 22/02 (J. Muddeman and G. Schreur). One at Alburquerque (BA) on 23/02 (J. Muddeman and G. Schreur).
Short-toed Eagle: One at Alange (BA) on 26/02 (M. Gálvez) and another at Santa Cruz de la Sierra (CC) (U. Bühlmann, J. P. Prieto and K. Walker). One at Mérida on 01/03 (J. Solana) and two between Trujillo and Torrejón el Rubio (CC) (M. Kelsey).
Ringed Plover: 20 on rice fields at Puebla de Alcollarín (BA) on 01/02 (M. Kelsey), present on 23/02 (V. de Alba and A. Núñez) and 23 on 26/02 (U. Bühlmann, J. P. Prieto and K. Walker).
Alpine Swift: Three at Alange (BA) on 20/02 (M. Gálvez and J. Guerra). One at Guadiana River in Badajoz on 26/02 (G. Schreur). One in Mérida (BA) on 03/03 (M. Kelsey).
Sand Martin: One at Soto gravel pit, Valverde de Mérida (BA), on 14/02 (M. Gálvez and J. Guerra) and more then ten there on 03/03 (M. Gálvez).
Red-rumped Swallow: One at Alange (BA) on 25/02 (J. Guerra). One at Monfragüe (CC) on 28/02 (Esther Charles and Ivana).